By Philip Nwosu

The Director General of the International maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) Dr Thaddeus Udofia said Nigeria must position its self as competitive maritime and logistics hub within Africa and beyond.
Dr Udofia said that the efficient logistics reduces the cost of doing business, improves competitiveness strengthen supply chain and enhances the ability of Nigerian ports and maritime corridors to support international trade
He spoke at the opening of the executive course of the Institute in Lagos which he said was aimed at addressing logistics bottlenecks, reducing port inefficiencies and strengthening trade facilitation to unlock opportunities in Nigeria’s blue economy.
With the theme” “Logistics and Trade Facilitation for Blue Economy Growth,” the Director General said effective trade facilitation requires cooperation and coordination among several specialized stakeholders including Customs, port authorities, regulatory agencies, shipping and logistics companies adding that “we must therefore move from working on institutional silos as the future of the blue economy requires greater collaboration, digitalization, transparency, interoperability and coordinated policy implementation.”
Udofia said the blue economy offered Nigeria significant opportunities for sustainable economic growth, job creation, increased trade and regional integration.
He noted that Nigeria’s vast maritime resources, including its coastline, Exclusive Economic Zone, inland waterways, creeks, estuaries and the Niger Delta Basin, could only translate into economic prosperity through efficient logistics, modern infrastructure and coordinated institutional frameworks.
According to him, the movement of goods, people, information and services across maritime corridors must be improved if Nigeria is to maximise the benefits of its blue economy.
“Logistics is the backbone of the maritime industry,” Udofia said, stressing that a substantial proportion of global trade is transported by sea.
He warned that Nigeria’s blue economy would be unable to realise its full economic potential without an efficient and integrated logistics system.
The IMION boss explained that the executive programme was designed to identify challenges affecting the movement of goods and services within Nigeria’s maritime environment and develop practical solutions.
He said participants would benefit from professional knowledge, practical logistics solutions, interaction with industry experts and networking opportunities.
Udofia also called for greater collaboration among Customs, port authorities, regulators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, transport operators, technology providers and financial institutions.
He said Nigeria could no longer afford to operate institutions in isolation, noting that the future of the country’s blue economy depended on collaboration, digitalisation, transparency and the effective implementation of policies.
The programme, he added, would explore ways to reduce port delays and transaction costs, improve cargo clearance and supply chain visibility, attract investment and promote employment and socioeconomic development.
Also speaking, the Dean of the School of Transport and Logistics at Lagos State University, Prof. Ogochukwu Ugboma, described logistics as a major driver in transforming the various components of the blue economy into economic value.
Ugboma said the blue economy extended beyond maritime trade to include coastal resources, tourism and other economic activities.
She stressed that logistics involved more than the physical movement of goods, explaining that information and financial flows were equally important to the effectiveness of the supply chain.
Speaking on the challenge of transporting cargo from Lagos ports to the hinterland, Ugboma said improving activities within port terminals alone would not solve Nigeria’s logistics problems.
She called for better access roads, improved gate turnaround times and stronger connectivity between ports and the hinterland.
According to her, logistics efficiency can only be achieved through an interconnected system rather than isolated improvements.
Similarly, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Supply Chain War Room and Director-General of the African Centre for Supply Chain, Dr Obiora Madu, said Nigeria was losing considerable economic value because of inefficiencies and congestion within its port and logistics systems.
Madu urged stakeholders to begin viewing ports as economic corridors rather than mere gateways for imports and exports.
He said the effectiveness of any port depended largely on its connectivity to the hinterland.
According to him, delays and congestion at Nigerian ports increase the cost of doing business, with the additional expenses eventually transferred to consumers.
Madu said reducing logistics costs and improving customer service should remain key priorities in efforts to reform Nigeria’s supply chain and maritime sectors.
He also urged IMION to sustain research into Nigeria’s performance on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index and develop practical recommendations that could improve the country’s competitiveness.
The three-day programme featured discussions on modern logistics systems, Customs procedures, port operations, multimodal transportation, supply chain management, trade facilitation and sustainable blue economy development.
Udofia also used the occasion to acknowledge the support of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, particularly for supporting IMION and facilitating the participation of Nigerian Navy personnel in the programme.
The IMION Director-General also unveiled the second edition of the IMION Newsletter, which he said would serve as a platform for documenting developments, innovations and emerging issues within Nigeria’s maritime industry and the wider Gulf of Guinea.
The programme is expected to equip participants with practical knowledge and strengthen professional networks that could support the development of a more efficient, competitive, resilient and sustainable blue economy in Nigeria and Africa.
Participants included representatives of the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Customs Service, port authorities, regulatory agencies, maritime organisations, logistics companies, government institutions and academics and the Nigerian Immigration Service.